Joe Allaria of Edwardsville, left and SIUC roommate and Salukis football teammate Jason Seaman in an August 2007 photo. Seaman, now a teacher, is being lauded as a hero for thwarting a school shooter Friday in Noblesville, Ind. despite being shot three times. less

Joe Allaria of Edwardsville, left and SIUC roommate and Salukis football teammate Jason Seaman in an August 2007 photo. Seaman, now a teacher, is being lauded as a hero for thwarting a school shooter Friday in ... more

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Jason Seaman

Former SIU Salukis defensive lineman Jason Seaman carries the American flag as he leads his team onto the field prior to a 2009 game in Carbondale. Former Edwardsville High standout Joe Allaria, who was Seaman’s roommate at SIUC, is wearing jersey No. 14 in the center. Seaman, now a science teacher in Indiana, was shot three times Friday as he thwarted a shooter at Noblesville West Middle School. less

Former SIU Salukis defensive lineman Jason Seaman carries the American flag as he leads his team onto the field prior to a 2009 game in Carbondale. Former Edwardsville High standout Joe Allaria, who was ... more

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FOOTBALL: EHS graduate Allaria was college roommate of school shooting hero Seaman

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The fact that middle-school teacher Jason Seaman would risk his life to save his students has surprised much of the country.

It didn’t surprise Joe Allaria. Not one bit.

Seaman is being hailed as a hero after confronting an armed male student who pulled a gun out and started shooting as his science class was taking a test Friday morning.

Former Edwardsville High standout Allaria and Seaman were roommates and teammates on the SIU Carbondale football team back in the day. Their friendship started with preseason football camp in 2007 and continues today.

The time he spent with Seaman left in impression on Allaria.

“This incident shows what type of man Jason is,” said Allaria, who played quarterback at Edwardsville High School. “As a teammate and a friend, he would do anything for his brothers. What Jason did is not surprising at all.

“He did what we all would like to think we would do in the same situation, but hope we never have to.”

Seaman, who was shot three times during the incident, is expected to recover from his injuries. He’s being lauded around the country for thwarting a bad situation what could have turned tragic.

Seaman played defensive lineman for the Salukis from 2007 to 2010, was shot three times. Allaria, who was a quarterback at SIUC, said the act of heroism wasn’t out of the ordinary for his old friend.

The two were dormitory roommates as freshmen and teammates four years. They were at each other’s weddings and stay in touch the best they can, but lives move on. Seaman pursued his dream of becoming a teacher. Allaria lives in Glen Carbon. He and his brother Mark Allaria, as well as Scott Carson own CarsonAllaria Wealth Management.

But the friendship formed between a pair of 18-year olds all those years ago remains.

“Jason was one of those guys on a football team who of the field was as nice as he can be, but as soon as the game starts, it’s on,” Allaria said. “He has the heart of a lion. He’s a fierce competitor who stands up for what he believes.”

Seaman obviously believes in protecting his students.

“He was an elementary educating major at SIU and we used to kid him about becoming a teacher of little kids,” Allaria said. “Jason’s a big guy, but has a warm heart.”

Think Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie “Kindergarten Cop.”

But this was no Hollywood fiction. It was Noblesville, Indiana drama that could have turned horrific, if not for Seaman.

At Edwardsville, Allaria completed 205 of 333 passes for 3,003 yards with 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He rushed 281 times for 1,708 yards and 33 touchdowns. Former Salukis coach Jerry Kill recruited him as a quarterback, but he later made the switch to wide receiver.

As incoming freshmen, Allaria and Seaman, who prepped at Mahomet-Seymour, were paired as roommates.

“We came in together,“ Allaria said. “It was a really good fit. We got along really well. It was kind of funny though, since (Seaman) is 6-5 and was the most solid, muscular guy I had ever seen and I was one of those little quarterback guys.

“That first football camp was one of the hardest things we had gone through, but we did it. I think something like can bond you.”

Allaria said Seaman’s toughness showed during his playing days.

“He was hard-nosed and always played hard,” he said. “He tore an ACL in a game once, but we had no idea he was even hurt because he got up and just walked off.”

Allaria found out about Friday’s shooting when another former Salukis teammate texted a screenshot of a news story about it.